Page 6 of My Forever Bear

Blinking my eyes open, I slowly raise my hand up to rub the crusties away.Ugh.My head is killing me. I let out a soft whimper. “What the hell happened?”

Above me, the ceiling is lined with dark wooden beams. Huh, this doesnotlook like my bedroom ceiling.

Brushing my hands down my body, soft, fuzzy sherpa caresses the skin. The heavy weight of the thick blanket tucks my body into the couch. Definitely not my comforter. Okay, where the hellamI?

I slowly sit upright, trying not to agitate the elephants dancing in my head. No use. Rubbing furiously at my temples, I peer through half-closed lids at the room around me. I’m laying on a large sectional style couch in a cabin. Exposed logs line the walls. Vibrant flames roar in the fireplace across from me.Cozy.

The room opens to a kitchen and dining area, with a hallway behind the couch leading to what I assume are a bedroom and a bathroom.

A door clicks shut in the distance, followed by heavy footsteps.Shit.I’m about to jump to my feet when the same man from the woods appears at the end of the hall.

“You're awake.” A lopsided grin spreads across his bearded face as he approaches the back of the couch. Bracing his hands on the back of the couch, he peers down at me with sparkling whiskey eyes. “How are you feeling, Lilac?”

Lilac?What the fuck? Who is this guy? And why is he calling me that?

I stand, wobbling slightly, clutching the soft blanket around me. “Uh, I’m fine. Umm. Thanks for your help, but I think I’ll be going now…”

I point over my shoulder to the door as my eyes search the room for my backpack. Where is it?

“No can do, sweetheart. It’s past sundown. What kind of gentleman would I be if I let my mate wander these woods at night?”

Mate.What does he mean? And why does that word release a swarm of butterflies in my stomach?

Ignoring the fact he’s given me another nickname, I slowly back towards the door. “Listen, I don’t know you, I don’t trust you, so I’m not staying here.” Even though, for some foreign reason, my body heats under his gaze, begging me to stay.

“Kiernan Holzman.” He extends his hand over the back of the couch. Eyes widening, I stare at it, dumbfounded as to what the actualfuckis happening right now.

“And you’re Wren Fields,” he continues, still holding his damn hand out.

My head whips up at the sound of my name. Taking a step back, I nearly trip on the leg of the coffee table.

“H-how do you know my name?”

Cheeks flushed in embarrassment, he runs his hand over his cropped dark brown hair. “I, um, may have looked through your bag while you were sleeping.” He looks away from me, the hand in his hair continuing down to rub the back of his neck.

At least he has the decency to look ashamed. “You had no right to go through my things, not to mention it’s creepy!” I all but screech.

Raising his hands in surrender, he looks at me with familiar whiskey-brown eyes.

“I wanted to know your name. I don’t want to hurt you. I plugged your phone in; it should be charged by now. Why don’t you let someone know you’re safe?”

I walk over to the kitchen counter, sure enough my phone is plugged in and waiting. Picking it up, I scroll to my messages.

“Listen, I’m not going to hurt you. I just want you to be safe, so, please, stay here for the night.” His voice is right behind me now. He places a hand on either side of me, effectively caging me in against the counter. I spin to face him, ready to protest. Deep pools of whiskey-brown stare down at me, my gut tells me to trust him. My gut tells me I’m safe with him.

“Okay,” I reply with a small voice.

A broad smile graces his face.Damn, he really is handsome.His hands fall to his sides as he takes a step back.

“I left some water and painkillers on the table by the couch.” He points to the living room.

I nod. My head pounds and my muscles ache. Phone in hand, I swipe up the pills. Popping them in my mouth, I chug half the glass of water, suddenly hit by raging thirst.

“Thank you,” I croak, before guzzling the rest of the water.

“You’re welcome,” he beams. “You can shower while I finish making dinner. Then I’ll answer any questions you have. I put some clothes and towels out in the bathroom for you.”

Pressing my phone to my ear, I close the bathroom door behind me, locking the knob just in case. I met Kiernan mere hours ago, and he seems harmless, but a locked door between us eases some of my worry.

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